It's all eyes on Michigan – again.
The 2026 midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, promises to put the Mitten State front and center with its marquee races for an open U.S. Senate seat and governor. But there are must-watch competitive congressional races, too, and more.
Here's a look at the statewide races and issues on the ballot:
Michigan's fiery U.S. Senate race
Michigan voters will weigh in on a heated race for an open U.S. Senate seat. Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers faces former public health official Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat. Rogers has President Donald Trump's backing and El-Sayed has support from prominent progressives, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.
The winner will replace U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, who decided not to seek reelection.
Rogers
ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2024. While Trump carried Michigan that year, the former congressman narrowly lost to then U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly. In the 2026 primary, Rogers received Trump's support early and ran unopposed.
El-Sayed, meanwhile, faced a grueling primary against U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham. The fight between El-Sayed, who hails from the left flank of the Democratic Party, and moderate Stevens drew national attention as a kind of litmus test of progressivism in a key battleground state.
The general election battle between El-Sayed and Rogers will test whether Republicans can break Michigan Democrats' hold on the U.S. Senate for the last 32 years. But El-Sayed represents a break from the more moderate senators that have represented the state in the past. Democrats have tied Rogers to Trump and the cost-of-living challenges Americans face under the president's watch. And while Democratic politicians and party leaders have largely rallied around El-Sayed, there remain holdouts.
Rogers and Republicans have painted El-Sayed as out of step with voters in the state. El-Sayed supports guaranteed public health care through a "Medicare for All" system and opposes unconditional military support for Israel. Rogers has emphasized his law enforcement background as an FBI agent and time serving as chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee. His campaign website, as of late August, outlined just one policy area of focus: Housing. It includes a call for expanding tax-free savings accounts to cover home down payments.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's term comes to an end
Whitmer, a Democrat who has led Michigan as governor since 2019, cannot seek reelection due to term limits. The governor's race will decide whether Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, another Democrat, or Republican U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township will replace Whitmer.
Benson has highlighted her track record standing up to Trump's election fights, including his and allies' efforts to overturn his loss in 2020. She has also rolled out proposals to tackle cost-of-living challenges, such as her support for allowing municipalities to set a minimum wage higher than the state's and expanding free pre-K to three-year-olds. Her running mate is Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks of Grand Rapids. It marks the first all-female ticket in a Michigan governor's race.
James touts his support from Trump and he has an extensive record supporting the president's policy agenda in Washington, D.C. He has campaigned on phasing out the state's income tax, repealing Michigan's clean energy law and banning transgender girls from competing on girls' sports teams. If elected, he would be Michigan's first Black governor. His running mate is state Rep. Jay DeBoyer of Clay Township, a Benson critic who has targeted her election and campaign finance administration record as chair of the Michigan House of Representatives' Oversight Committee.
The race pits two historical election trends against one another. Michigan voters in the last several open races for governor have replaced the outgoing leader with someone from the opposite political party. If that pattern holds, a Republican should replace Whitmer. On the other hand, the president's party tends to face headwinds in midterm elections, so that means a boost for Democrats with Trump in the White House.
Party power struggles in the Michigan Legislature
Republicans currently hold a 58-52 majority in the Michigan House of Representatives while Democrats hold a 20-18 majority in the Michigan Senate. The current era of divided government began after Republicans flipped the state House in the 2022 election, bringing an end to the state's first Democratic governing trifecta in 40 years that moved quickly to enact a slew of policies opposed by Republicans - but other Democratic policy priorities stalled out during a chaotic lame duck session.
In the 2026 election, all 110 seats in the Michigan House and the 38 seats in the Michigan Senate are up for election. The incoming group of lawmakers will either shepherd or stymie the next governor's agenda through the Michigan Capitol. Or require compromise to avoid a stalemate, if the Michigan Legislature retains its current partisan split.
Battleground congressional races
Michigan's 2026 election features three potentially competitive congressional races, according to ratings from the Cook Political Report issued in late August, which analyzes elections around the United States. These races could help decide which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
Michigan's 4th Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Township, currently holds this West Michigan seat. He faces Democratic challenger state Sen. Sean McCann of Kalamazoo. Unlike the other potentially competitive congressional races, this one features a longtime incumbent in Huizenga, who has served in the U.S. House since 2011.
Michigan's 7th Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, currently represents this mid-Michigan toss-up district. He's a freshman lawmaker who's in the fight of his political life as he seeks to hold onto his seat. He has emphasized his independence from the Republican Party and President Donald Trump, noting his support for an end to the Iran war and data center opposition in an ad. Opposition to the large, energy-intensive facilities that warehouse servers fueling the artificial intelligence boom became a key issue that helped propel Barrett's Democratic opponent Will Lawrence's primary victory. Lawrence defeated more establishment Democrats with the support of progressives, including Sanders and El-Sayed.
Michigan's 10th Congressional District: John James, a Republican, is serving his first term representing this district that encompasses parts of Macomb and Oakland counties. But James' run for Michigan governor leaves his seat open. Trump-endorsed Michael Bouchard – an Army National Guard captain and the son of the Oakland County sheriff – faces Democrat Christina Hines, a career prosecutor who has worked for the Wayne and Washtenaw counties' prosecutor's offices.
Bonus mention – Michigan's 8th Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Kristin McDonald Rivet, a Democratic freshman congresswoman, currently represents this district that includes the Tri-Cities area: Bay City, where McDonald Rivet lives, Midland and Saginaw. She faces Republican Thomas Smith – a political novice – who had previously dropped out of his GOP primary, a three-way race in which Smith defeated a Trump-endorsed candidate. This race was previously rated as leaning toward a Democratic win but changed to a likely Democratic win after the primary, according to Cook Political Report's ratings. Smith is a retired GM engineer who began a salsa company with his son, according to his campaign website.
Can you con-con?
Every 16 years, Michigan voters are asked whether to hold a convention to revise the state's constitution (or con-con). If voters reject opening up the constitution, the current one dating back to 1963 remains in place.
Everything would be on the table at a convention: The state's unenforceable ban on same-sex marriage, a state right to abortion, Michigan's absentee and early voting systems, a ban on a graduated income tax and more.
More turnover in statewide leadership
Other key statewide offices are up for a vote this fall, including:
Attorney General: Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, cannot run again due to term limits. The race to replace her features Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, a Democrat, and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd, a Republican.
Secretary of State: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson – the Democratic nominee to be Michigan's next governor – also cannot run again due to term limits. Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II faces Republican Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini.
Michigan Supreme Court: Two current Michigan Supreme Court justices – both affiliated with the Democratic Party – are seeking to stay on the bench: Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh and Justice Noah Hood. The Republicans in the race are 23rd Circuit Judge Casandra Morse-Bills and Oakland County Circuit Judge Michael Warren. Currently, Democrats hold a 6-1 majority on the court, which is the highest court in Michigan. While political parties nominate candidates for the court, the race appears on the nonpartisan section of the ballot.
State Board of Education: The State Board of Education supervises public education in Michigan and appoints the state superintendent. Currently, Democrats hold a 6-2 majority on the board. Two Democrats on the board are seeking reelection: Judith Pritchett and Tiffany Tilley. Their Republican challengers are Terence Collins and Bree Moeggenberg.
University of Michigan Board of Regents: Democrats currently hold a 6-2 majority on the University of Michigan Board of Regents. Paul Brown, a Democrat, is running to keep his seat on the board. Jordan Acker, another Democratic regent, didn't get his party's support in his reelection bid. Instead, party delegates backed Amir Makled, a civil rights attorney from Dearborn. The Republican candidates are former congressional and regent candidate Lena Epstein and Bloomfield Township Treasurer Michael Schostak.
Michigan State University Board of Trustees: Democrats currently hold six seats on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, Republicans hold one and the partisan affiliation of another appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is unclear. Democratic incumbents Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay Zemke are seeking reelection. Their Republican challengers are former Novi City Council member Julie Maday and state Sen. Roger Victory of Georgetown Township.
Wayne State University Board of Governors: Democrats currently hold a 5-3 majority on the Wayne State University Board of Governors. Democrats Bryan Barnhill II – who currently chairs the board – and Anil Kumar are not seeking reelection. The Democratic candidates for the board are labor and civil rights lawyer Richard Mack and civil and human rights lawyer Shereef Akeel. The Republican candidates are Andy Anuzis, who has worked as a charter school principal and the president of the charter school network Cornerstone Schools, and former WSU Board of Governors candidate Christa Murphy, who has worked in technology.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Heated midterm election races has all eyes on Michigan
